NBA

Schroder, Hawks end 8-game skid, beat Cavaliers 117-115

ABS-CBN Sports on Nov 06, 2017 07:43 AM

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 22: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Atlanta Hawks enters the court during the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2017 at Philips Center in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Liles/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Hawks were missing five players, but still posted their first victory since topping Dallas in the season opener.

Kevin Love of the Cavaliers was taken to a hospital with an illness, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said without disclosing the problem. Love left in the third quarter and had four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes.

Coming off his 57-point performance Friday night (Saturday, PHl time) at Washington, LeBron James had 26 points and 13 assists for Cleveland. The Cavaliers have lost 5-of-7.

The Cavaliers cut a 16-point deficit in the second half to two on James’ basket with 21.3 seconds left. Atlanta’s Isaiah Taylor missed two free throws with 12.1 seconds to go, but Channing Frye missed a three-pointer and Dwyane Wade’s tip-in fell off the rim.

The Cavaliers have also lost to Orlando, New York, Indiana and Brooklyn during their rocky stretch, which has included three straight defeats at home. Wade kept Cleveland in the game with 19 points in the first half and finished with a season-high 25.

Schroder scored 11 straight points in the third quarter to kept Atlanta ahead. Cleveland steadily cut into the lead behind Kyle Korver’s 19 points in the fourth.

Atlanta put seven players in double figures, including the five starters. Luke Babbitt, making his first start of the season in place of Mike Muscala (sprained ankle), and Taurean Prince each scored 17 points.

Lue used two timeouts in the first seven minutes as the Hawks raced ahead 27-11.

Cleveland’s opponents came into the game shooting an NBA-best percentage (.416) going into the game. Atlanta hit 11-of-25 three-pointers.

ON THE WAY BACK

Cleveland point guard Isaiah Thomas, acquired as part of the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston, has been doing on-court workouts. The team announced before the season that it hoped he would return by January.

“The staff’s doing a great job trying to get him ready,” Lue said. “We don’t want to rush him back if he’s not 100 percent. They’ve been doing a good job taking it slow and make sure they rehabilitate him the right way.”

Thomas averaged a career-high 28.9 points, third in the league, last season. Rose has been starting at point guard while James has also run the offense.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: G Iman Shumpert (sore right knee) will practice Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) for the first time since being injured Oct. 29 (Oct. 30, PHL time). He could play Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) against Milwaukee...F Tristan Thompson (strained left calf) is expected to miss miss three to four weeks.